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1. A Series of Zinc Mononuclear Complexes with Imidoyl Amidine Ligands: Syntheses, Crystal Structures, and Photoluminescence Properties

   https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry6040045  

   Nijhuis, Mart Ruben; Yamba, Zaina; Novikov, Egor; Fonari, Marina S; Timofeeva, Tatiana V; Castañeda, Raúl (August 2024, Chemistry)

   Three amidine-based ligands were used in the crystal design of a series of mononuclear Zn(II) complexes. Interaction of zinc chloride, ZnCl2, with N-2-pyridylimidoyl-2-pyridylamidine (Py2ImAm) resulted in complexes [Zn(Py2ImAm)2] (1) and [ZnCl2(Py2ImAm)] (2). In [Zn(Py2ImAm)2] (1, monoclinic, P21/c), the metal ion was coordinated with the bidentate pocket of the anionic form of Py2ImAm, while in [ZnCl2(Py2ImAm)] (2, monoclinic, P21/n), the tridentate coordination to a neutral Py2ImAm was completed by two chloride anions. This structural variation was achieved by a pH-controlling strategy using the weak base triethylamine (TEA). Otherwise, three ionic complexes were obtained with 2-amidinopyridine (PyAm) and Zinc(II), [ZnCl(PyAm)2]Cl (3, triclinic, P-1), [ZnCl(PyAm)2]2[ZnCl4]·C2H5OH (4, monoclinic, P21/n), and [ZnCl(PyAm)2]2Cl·CH3OH (5, triclinic, P-1). They comprised the same [ZnCl(PyAm)2]+ monocation with a butterfly-like shape provided by the bidentate chelate coordination of two PyAm neutral entities and a chloride ligand. In a similar butterfly shape, ionic complex [ZnCl(PmAm)2]2[ZnCl4] (6, monoclinic, C2/c) comprised the mononuclear [ZnCl(PmAm)2]+ cations with two bidentate chelate-coordinated 2-amidinopyrimidine (PmAm) as neutral ligands. The Zn(II) pentacoordinated arrangement in 3–6 was variable, from square pyramidal to trigonal bipyramidal. The reported compounds’ synthetic protocols, crystal structures and photoluminescence properties are discussed. 

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2. Catalytic asymmetric cycloaddition reactions of enoldiazo compounds

   https://doi.org/10.1039/C9OB00478E  

   Marichev, Kostiantyn O.; Doyle, Michael P. (April 2019, Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry)

   This review describes catalytic asymmetric cycloaddition reactions of silyl-protected enoldiazo compounds for the construction of highly functionalized carbo- and heterocycles which possess one or more chiral center(s). The enoldiazo compound or its derivative, donor–acceptor cyclopropene, form electrophilic vinylogous metal carbene intermediates that combine stepwise with nucleophilic dipolar reactants to form products from [3 + 1]-, [3 + 2]-, [3 + 3]-, [3 + 4]-, and [3 + 5]-cycloaddition, generally in high yield and with exceptional stereocontrol and regioselectivity. 

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3. Distal scaffold flexibility accelerates ligand substitution kinetics in manganese( i ) tricarbonyls: flexible thianthrene versus rigid anthracene scaffolds

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D2DT04048D  

   Labrecque, Jordan; Cho, Yae-In; McIntosh, Daniel K.; Agboola, Faridat; Rose, Michael J. (March 2023, Dalton Transactions)

   This work investigates the effect of molecular flexibility on fundamental ligand substitution kinetics in a pair of manganese( i ) carbonyls supported by scaffold-based ligands. In previous work, we reported that the planar and rigid, anthracene-based scaffold with two pyridine ‘arms’ ( Anth-py 2 , 2) serves as a bidentate, cis donor set, akin to a strained bipyridine (bpy). In the present work, we have installed a more flexible and dynamic scaffold in the form of thianthrene ( Thianth-py 2 , 1), wherein the scaffold in the free ligand exhibits a ∼130° dihedral angle in the solid state. Thianth-py 2 also exhibits greater flexibility (molecular motion) in solution compared with Anth-py 2 , as evidenced by longer 1 H NMR T 1 times Thianthy-py 2 ( T 1 = 2.97 s) versus Anth-py 2 ( T 1 = 1.91 s). Despite the exchange of rigid Anth-py2 for flexible Thianth-py2 in the complexes [( Anth-py 2 )Mn(CO) 3 Br] (4) and [( Thianth-py 2 )Mn(CO) 3 Br] (3), respectively, nearly identical electronic structures and electron densities were observed at the Mn center: the IR of 3 exhibits features at 2026, 1938 and 1900 cm −1 , nearly identical to the features of the anthracene-based congener (4) at 2027, 1936 and 1888 cm −1 . Most importantly, we assessed the effect of ligand-scaffold flexibility on reactivity and measured the rates of an elementary ligand substitution reaction. For ease of IR study, the corresponding halide-abstracted, nitrile-bound (PhCN) cations [( Thianth-py 2 )Mn(CO) 3 (PhCN)](BF 4 ) (6) and [( Anth-py 2 )Mn(CO) 3 (PhCN)](BF 4 ) (8) were generated in situ , and the PhCN → Br – back-reaction was monitored. The more flexible 3 (thianth-based) exhibited ∼3–4× faster ligand substitution kinetics ( k 25 C = 22 × 10 −2 min −1 , k 0 C = 43 × 10 −3 min −1 ) than the rigid analogue 4 (anth-based: ( k 25 C = 6.0 × 10 −2 min −1 , k 0 C = 9.0 × 10 −3 min −1 ) on all counts. Constrained angle DFT calculations revealed that despite large changes in the thianthrene scaffold dihedral angle, the bond metrics of 3 about the metal center remain unchanged; i.e. the ‘flapping’ motion is strictly a second coordination sphere effect. These results suggest that the local environment of molecular flexibility plays a key role in determining reactivity at the metal center, which has essential implications for understanding the reactivity of organometallic catalysts and metalloenzyme active sites. We propose that this molecular flexibility component of reactivity can be considered a thematic ‘third coordination sphere’ that dictates metal structure and function. 

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4. Coinage Metal Complexes of a Sterically Encumbered Anionic Pyridylborate

   https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202401204  

   Vanga, Mukundam; Muñoz‐Castro, Alvaro; Dias, H_V Rasika (August 2024, Chemistry – A European Journal)

   Abstract Sterically loaded, anionic pyridine has been synthesized and utilized successfully in the stabilization of a isoleptic series of coinage metal complexes. The treatment of [4‐(Ph₃B)‐2,6‐Trip₂Py]K (Trip=2,4,6‐ⁱPr₃C₆H₂) with CuBr(PPh₃), AgCl(PPh₃) or AuCl(PPh₃) (Py=pyridine) afforded the corresponding [4‐(Ph₃B)‐2,6‐Trip₂Py]M(PPh₃) (M=Au, Ag, Cu) complexes, via salt metathesis, as isolable, crystalline solids. Notably, these reactions avoid the facile single electron transfer chemistry reported with the less bulky ligand systems. The X‐ray structures revealed that they are two‐coordinate metal adducts. The M−N and M−P bond distances are longest in the silver and shortest in the copper adduct among the three group 11 family members. Computational analysis revealed an interesting stability dependence on steric bulk of the anionic pyridine (i. e., pyridyl borate) ligand. A comparison of structures and bonding of [4‐(Ph₃B)‐2,6‐Trip₂Py]Au(PPh₃) to pyridine andm‐terphenyl complexes, {[2,6‐Trip₂Py]Au(PPh₃)}[SbF₆] and [2,6‐Trip₂Ph]Au(PPh₃) are also provided. The Au(I) isocyanide complex, [4‐(Ph₃B)‐2,6‐Trip₂Py]Au(CNBu^t) has been stabilized using the same anionic pyridylborate illustrating that it can support other gold‐ligand moieties as well. 

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5. Ligand and solvent effects on CO ₂ insertion into group 10 metal alkyl bonds

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC06346D  

   Deziel, Anthony P.; Espinosa, Matthew R.; Pavlovic, Ljiljana; Charboneau, David J.; Hazari, Nilay; Hopmann, Kathrin H.; Mercado, Brandon Q. (February 2022, Chemical Science)

   The insertion of carbon dioxide into metal element σ-bonds is an important elementary step in many catalytic reactions for carbon dioxide valorization. Here, the insertion of carbon dioxide into a family of group 10 alkyl complexes of the type ( R PBP)M(CH 3 ) ( R PBP = B(NCH 2 PR 2 ) 2 C 6 H 4 − ; R = Cy or t Bu; M = Ni or Pd) to generate κ 1 -acetate complexes of the form ( R PBP)M{OC(O)CH 3 } is investigated. This involved the preparation and characterization of a number of new complexes supported by the unusual R PBP ligand, which features a central boryl donor that exerts a strong trans -influence, and the identification of a new decomposition pathway that results in C–B bond formation. In contrast to other group 10 methyl complexes supported by pincer ligands, carbon dioxide insertion into ( R PBP)M(CH 3 ) is facile and occurs at room temperature because of the high trans -influence of the boryl donor. Given the mild conditions for carbon dioxide insertion, we perform a rare kinetic study on carbon dioxide insertion into a late-transition metal alkyl species using ( t Bu PBP)Pd(CH 3 ). These studies demonstrate that the Dimroth–Reichardt parameter for a solvent correlates with the rate of carbon dioxide insertion and that Lewis acids do not promote insertion. DFT calculations indicate that insertion into ( t Bu PBP)M(CH 3 ) (M = Ni or Pd) proceeds via an S E 2 mechanism and we compare the reaction pathway for carbon dioxide insertion into group 10 methyl complexes with insertion into group 10 hydrides. Overall, this work provides fundamental insight that will be valuable for the development of improved and new catalysts for carbon dioxide utilization. 

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